University of California

Umberto Anselmi-Tamburini

Zuhair A Munir

Javier E Garay

Sangtae Kim

Manfred Martin

The present invention provides a proton conducting thin film having a dense nanometric ceramic material with a relative density of at least about 90% and a grain size of less than about 30 nm, wherein the proton conducting thin film is capable of operating at temperatures of less than about 100&#xb0; C. in the presence of water vapor. The present invention also provides an electrochemical device using the proton conducting thin film, and a method of making the proton conducting thin film.

Low-temperature protonic conduction for hydrogen-related energy applications employing nanostructured functional oxides

A method for preparing highly dense functional oxides with crystallite size in the range of 10-20 nm. Using a high pressure modification of a the Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) technique, rapid thermal cycles (&#x3c;10 min) coupled with very rapid pressure increase up to 1 GPa can be obtained allowing high degree of compaction and very limited grain growth. This combination of techniques was employed to produce the finest-grained ceramics ever prepared in bulk form in the case of fully stabilized zirconia and Sm-doped Ceria.

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Davis, CA, United States of America

Umberto Anselmi-Tamburini